CNFC MATCH REPORT 04 - vs SHRIVENHAM

Chipping Norton Town 2 � 1 Shrivenham

Chippy left it late, but finally made their late pressure tell and secured their first victory of the season when Steve Knight poked the ball home a minute from time, breaking through the resilient Shrivvy defence. It was a hard fought and competitive game up at a typically blustery Hailey Road, both sides having a disappointing start to the season, and desperately searching for points to move up the table at this early stage. Ian Ford was without the suspended Anthony Akers and Remi Prierra, and when Cameron Busby and Nathan Haisley were caught in the Bank Holiday traffic, coach Kevin Barry had to start the game. Dave Skipp had recovered from a hamstring injury, Steve Knight was available after missing the Almondsbury game, and Andy Harris recalled to left back. It was a very swift opening to the game, Andy Varnam set up Skipp (pictured left) and his effort was hacked off the line by Peters, then Shrivvy broke up the other end and Dave Toomey thought that he�d opened the scoring, but was thwarted by the offside flag, all of this inside the first two minutes. The game was end to end, without either side maintaining possession comfortably, the breezy wind having a large factor in this. Tim Jenkins connected sweetly with a 25-yarder which shaved the bar, then Steve Knight cut inside his man an fizzed in another effort from distance which was narrowly off target, up the other end, the impressive Tom Fila�s effort was well parried by Mark Harris. The opening goal arrived on nineteen minutes, Skipp broke up a Shrivvy attack in his own half, switched play intelligently to set Alex Volosanovs galloping down the left, he flicked the ball inside to Jenkins, who deftly played in the onrushing Skipp, who had continued his run, and Skipp�s finish was exemplary from the edge of the area, right into the corner of the net. It was almost 2-0 moments later, but Betterton in the visiting goal made a tremendous save from a Steve Olczak header. The equaliser arrived ten minutes from half-time, and what a strike it was. Toomey picked the ball up with his back to goal midway inside the Chippy half, he twisted and turned his way past his marker, flicked the ball up and drilled a sweet half volley which arrowed into the top corner of the net

Half-Time 1-1

The second half was full of effort and enterprise, but not a great deal of goalmouth action. Both defences looking on top, and the midfield�s cancelling themselves out. Chippy�s best moments came when they spread the ball wide, Volosanovs and Knight, both keen to attack their full-backs. Knight almost set Skipp in on goal but Betterton was out quickly to snuff out the danger. Volosanovs was gaining success down the left, and when he cut inside and shot, it looked a clear handball, but the referee deemed it ball to hand and waved play on. An even bigger penalty shout came with just five minutes remaining, Skipp sent Knight clear, and as he reached the ball, Betterton came flying out of his goal, looked to have bundled him over, but the officials agreed on a no penalty shout. It was constant Chippy pressure the last five minutes, with free-kicks and corners being conceded by the increasingly desperate Shrivvy defence now. Finally with a minute remaining Town got their goal, Nathan Haisley, on at half-time for Barry, made a fantastic slidng challenge to win the ball on halfway, sprayed it out wide to Volosanovs, who crossed and as the ball was headed clear Skipp picked it up, cut inside his man, his shot was blocked, but the loose ball dropped for Knight on the six yard box, and he poked the ball home to send The Magpies off to wild celebrations. A good show of character from a side who�d conceded three goals in the last three minutes just a week ago!
TEAM: Mark Harris 7, Gary Morrison 8, Andy Harris 6, Steve Olczak 9*, Nathan Meade 8, Kevin Barry 6 (Nathan Haisley 45/8), Tim Jenkins 6, Alex Volosanovs 7, Steve Knight 7, Dave Skipp 8, Andy Varnam 7 (Cameron Busby 73/7)